Community mobilizes to look for killer of 3-year-old KC girl and her mother

The shelter house at Blue Hills Park received a bright splash of pink Tuesday. Paint crews transformed the structure at 53rd Street and Brooklyn Avenue from blue to pink in honor of 3-year-old Damiah L. White, who was found shot to death along with her mother, Myeisha J. Turner, 28, on Aug. 23 in their home a few blocks away. Pink was Damiah’s favorite color.

The shelter house at Blue Hills Park received a bright splash of pink Tuesday.

Kansas City paint crews transformed the structure at 53rd Street and Brooklyn Avenue from blue to pink in honor of 3-year-old Damiah L. White, who was found shot to death along with her mother, Myeisha J. Turner, 28, on Aug. 23 in their home a few blocks away.

Pink was Damiah’s favorite color.

As crews put the finishing touches on the shelter, Damiah’s relatives, homicide detectives and members of the Kansas City No Violence Alliance, along with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, canvassed the neighborhood, walking door to door passing out fliers and urging residents to come forward with information about the unsolved slaying.

“Somebody knows something and I am asking this community to step up,” Baker said. “This 3-year-old child is a part of our community, she was taken from us and enough is enough. I want a case (to prosecute). I am looking for a case.”

A relative found Damiah and her mother dead inside their small duplex on Wabash Avenue. Turner had moved in just days before. Turner’s youngest child, an 11-month-old boy, was found alive and crying, having been left to wander around the bodies — possibly for hours.

On Tuesday, canvassers encouraged residents to attend a 3 p.m. Wednesday rally at Blue Hills Park. Speakers include Mayor Sly James, Baker, representatives from the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime and Mothers in Charge, and members of the Turner family.

Pink and purple balloons were tied to the bright blue and yellow park sign. Canvassers planted yard signs near the shelter that featured Damiah’s photo and the message “When is enough, enough? I was only 3!”

Relatives said they are grateful for the outpouring of community support. They urged witnesses to come forward.

“I want to let the community know, this could have been your daughter, this could have been your granddaughter,” said Anthony Clark, Turner’s grandfather. “I want this to be an awakening to the community so that they will know it is time for us to put a stop to this. Enough is enough.